91998E3924

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3924/98

by Michl Ebner (PPE) to the Commission

(4 January 1999)

Subject: Recognition of hunting licences

Within the Community, wide disparities exist between the individual Member States and between the various regions and/or Länder as regards the content, conditions, scope and cost of hunting licences.

Any hunter wishing to hunt in another Member State may do so upon acquisition of a "Guest Hunters" Licence'. Such acquisition requires no examination in hunting techniques, although local residents must indeed pass an examination of that nature. To some extent, therefore, the system discriminates against the latter.

In some cases, the hunting licences acquired in one Member State are not even recognised in other countries.

The Commission:

- does it therefore intend to seek harmonisation or approximation of the provisions for the acquisition of a hunting licence; and

- does it intend, with a view to the completion of the single market, to require the Member States at least to provide for mutual recognition of the hunting examinations which are the basis for the issuing of a hunting licence?

Answer by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(12 March 1999)

Council Directive 89/48/EEC of 21 December 1988 introduced a general system for the recognition of higher-education diplomas awarded on completion of professional education and training of at least three years' duration(1). This directive was subsequently supplemented by Council Directive 92/51/EEC of 18 June 1992 on a second general system for the recognition of professional education and training(2). The second directive concerns diplomas that were not covered by the first. These directives refer to professional qualifications and do not therefore cover hunting licences, which are permits issued for a leisure activity.

While containing provisions on hunting, Community legislation on the environment - especially Council Directives 79/409/EEC of 2 April 1979 on the conservation of wild birds(3) and 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora(4) - does not lay down any requirements concerning the examinations that hunters must pass before acquiring a licence.

The Commission has no plans at the moment to seek Community harmonisation in this area. The honourable Member is referred to the provision of Article 3b of the EC Treaty, which states that "the Community shall act within the limits of the powers conferred upon it by this Treaty and of the objectives assigned to it therein" and that "any action by the Community shall not go beyond what is necessary to achieve the objectives of this Treaty."

(1) OJ L 19, 24.1.1989.

(2) OJ L 209, 24.7.1992.

(3) OJ L 103, 25.4.1979.

(4) OJ L 206, 22.7.1992.